Dunfermline 1 Falkirk 1

cinch League One: Lewis McCann started in place of Kevin O’Hara. Calumn Morrison (30) 0-1: Kyle Benedictus (55 pen.) 1-1:

A Kyle Benedictus penalty countered Calumn Morrison’s first half opener and the sides had to settle for a point apiece in this strongly contested derby

Dunfermline and Falkirk met for the first league match between them for over three years and it was a much anticipated confrontation that both sides relished. Rekindling the rivalry there was never any doubt that this was going to be a match not to be missed.

Dunfermline manager James McPake made one change from the side that defeated Queen of the South last time out - Lewis McCann coming in for the absent Kevin O’Hara. Craig Wighton returned to take a place on the Pars bench beside Vice Captain Chris Hamilton and three U18s who were in action on Friday evening.

Falkirk made two changes from the side that lost to Kelty Hearts two weeks ago - Sean Mackie and Juan Alegría dropping out and Gary Oliver and Rumarn Burrell coming in.

The atmosphere was building inside the KDM Group East End Park long before kick off and the teams emerged to a resounding welcome. There was a one minute silence ahead of kick off in respect for Queen Elizabeth II whose funeral would take place on Monday.

The visitors kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end and it was a lively start from both sides. The first opportunity came the Bairns way when Kyle Benedictus was deemed to have fouled 30 yards out and Craig McGuffie sent the setpiece into the Pars six box. Rumarn Burrell came close to getting a crucial touch but it was Deniz Mehmet who grabbed the ball.

James McPake was shown the first yellow card of the afternoon for something he must have said, then Benedictus was shown yellow three minutes later as a Falkirk player tumbled out on the right. Fortunately the free kick when delivered as easy headed away.

On 13 minutes Gary Oliver cut in from the right and his cut back found the relatively unmarked McGuffie 15 yards out but he crashed his shot wide right. Falkirk continued to press and an exchange from Aidan Nesbitt to McGuffie created a chance for Burrell but fortunately he was blocked at the right post.

Dunfermline were being kept well away from Falkirk keeper Nicky Hogarth and he easily held a 27th minute free kick swung over from the right touchline. Two minutes later a corner forced by McCann on the right was similarly taken by Hogarth when Chalmers sent it in.

From that 30th minute corner Hogarth’s throw sent the impressively quick Burrell racing away down the right. He evaded the challenge of Comrie and then Macdonald to set up Nesbitt who switched the ball to Calumn MORRISON who could hardly miss at the far post. 0-1

There was almost an immediate reply but the crossbar kept out Nikolay Todorov’s header and then his follow up cleared the horizontal. Falkirk stuck to their task however and finished the half strongly. Two corners from the right were survived firstly when Lewis McCann headed clear and then when referee Chris Graham blew for an infringement.

Not the Fifers best first half of the season and the visitors deserved their half time lead and John McGlynn would believe that it should have been bigger.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Falkirk 1

Lewis McCann’s 50th minute effort from 25 yards out was tipped around his left hand post by Hogarth. From the resultant corner Chalmers ball was met by Breen. The 22 year old centre back’s shot returned to Chalmers who picked out Chris Mochrie but his drive hit McCann and then Todd. Next Chalmers tried a shot from 25 yards that rebounded off the left post.

The following minute a sweeping pass from Todd sent Todorov down the right and on reaching the byeline he squared for McCann who failed to meet the strong cross but the referee awarded a spot kick for a Liam Henderson foul on Todorov. Captain BENEDICTUS stepped up and smashed the ball past Hogarth 1-1.

The equaliser ignited the home support who made themselves extremely vocal as their team increased their endeavour seeking a second. Mochrie sent an effort high, then in 69 minutes the Dundee United loanee beat off the challenge of three Falkirk players to put himself in position to shoot from the edge of the box and he was unlucky to see the ball slip outside the right goalpost.

With quarter of an hour left a low ball in from the right from Aaron Comrie was turned on to the near post by Todorov. Then a long throw from Edwards was headed into the sidenetting by Todd.

With Falkirk relying on breakaways, Dunfermline were looking by far the more likely to find the winner. In 81 minutes Todd did well to take the ball down the left and cross for Mochrie. He was denied a shot as four players crowded him out but Kyle Macdonald got in a low drive that was blocked.

Craig Wighton replaced Macdonald with four minutes remaining. Hogarth tipped away a 90th minute free kick and then Edwards long throw evaded everyone. There had been near things at both ends but the match would end all square with the Pars to thank their skipper for his first Dunfermline goal.

Related Stories

• Manager post Falkirk
• Preview Falkirk
• Manager on Thursday
• Queen of the South 0 Dunfermline 2